Here we go. >> I call to order the regular meeting of the Boda Board of Education for Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. Please stand for the pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Wait, >> the New Jersey open public's meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have the advanced notice of
and to attend the meetings of the public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Boda Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and
place thereof posted in the Boda Boro home communicated by letter of the record filed with the clerk of the Borro Bod and posted by the Bagota Board of Education website. Erin, please call the role.
>> Sure. Mrs. Alvarez, >> present. >> Mr. Alvarez, >> present. Mrs. Cruz >> present. >> Mr. Miranda >> present. >> Mrs. Na >> present. >> Mrs. Olivo >> present. >> Mrs. Salam absent. Mrs. Ruckett >> present. >> Mr. Chavez
>> present. >> We have the quorum. >> Also present are superintendent Damian Kennedy. Board attorney Thomas Cobin. Um, school business administrative board secretary Epsilu. Assistant board. No, she's not
here either. And no student representative today. Open the floor to citizens of agenda items only. Motion to open the floor. >> Second. Alvash. >> Any board discussion? All in favor?
>> I. >> If there is any member of the public who would like to address agendas item items only, please come forward. Speaker, please state your name. You have five minutes. Is there a motion to close hearing of the citizens?
>> Motion second. Any board discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Moving on to section 3.1 of the agenda superintendence report. Is there any report, Mr. Kennedy? >> Yes. First up, under HIB, we had two in the
high school that were unfounded. We were also very fortunate to have the commissioner of education visit us in the district on Friday, Dr. Locks. Uh she toured Steen School and their new CTE building. Uh she was
very impressed with what we were going on in our district. Uh from my understanding, she only visited two districts in Bergen County and we were one of them. So Sam being Sam actually said well why did you pick us like we were you know when she asked if we had
any questions >> and she said because of your testing data which was I want to see what you are doing in your elementary schools because you have positive testing data year after year. So that was a really good thing to hear. She was uh it was I
I've never had the opportunity to meet a commissioner of education. So, this was something that was uh pretty cool for us and it was something that uh to see her and you know she had a presence about her and knew a lot about what was going
on. So, uh we wanted to thank her and the department of education. The media center is complete. Uh students are helping move some of the stuff back in this week for some service hours, but we are back in there. The air conditioning
is already hooked up in there because it was a smaller room. We were able to hook up the Bixby air conditioner. We took that over from Bixby that used to heat up the uh uh the gym there. We moved that up here and now that's working already. So, that's a really great
thing. Uh and as you can see, electrical upgrades has started. uh as you've seen at uh Bixby and the high school. So that is moving along. Hopefully this summer we're able to switch over to uh improve our electrical in all buildings for
future projects. I want to congratulate Mr. Dlosa and Mrs. Dlosa, a fatherdaughter duo for a wonderful Steen Elementary concert. Every seat upstairs and downstairs was filled with standing room in the back
only. So, our students did a wonderful job and it was a great night. Next up is the high school concert on Thursday, followed by the middle school on Monday. And then lastly, our next board meeting will be held on June 16th in the high
school gym starting at 6:00 p.m. This is the one where we recognize our teacher of the years and all our retirees and all our good things that happened for the year. So again, that meeting will take place on the 16th in the gym with an earlier start time at 6:00 so we get
everything in that night. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. Um, that's an amazing thing. I'm I'm extremely happy that we're there. Uh, moving on to resolution 4.1, which is the approval of the open sessions minutes for April
28th, 2026 regular meeting. Is there a motion to approve? >> Motion. Rucket second. Alvarez. Alvarez. Any board discussion? Roll call. >> Mrs. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda. >> I read the meetings. Yes. >> Mrs. Naim. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Olivo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Racket? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez? >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Under section five, there is no policy
resolution at this time. Uh let's move on to resolution 611 in education section which is for the approval of agendas items 6 through 61 through 610. Is there a motion to approve? >> Olivo
second. >> Second. Cruz. >> Any board discussion? Roll call please. >> Mrs. Svarez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Na. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Olivo.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Rekett. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to resolution 716 uh in the personnel section which is for the approval of agenda items 7 through 1. 7.1 through 75.
Is there a motion to approve? >> Miranda. A second. >> Any board discussion? Roll call. >> Mr. Solz. >> Mr. Alvarez. Uh I have to abstain from 7.1 and 7.5 but yes to all the rest.
>> Thank you Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Na. >> Yes. >> Mr. Solivo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reckett. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez. >> Yes. >> Motion carry. >> Moving on resolution 8.13 in finance section which is for the approval of
agenda items only 8.1 through 8.12. Is there a motion to approve the resolution 8.13? Alvarez. >> Alvarez. >> Mr. Miranda. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alvarez.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Naim? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Olivo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ruckett? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez? >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on. Resolution 9.6 of the building and ground section, which is
the approval of the agenda 9.1 through 9.5. Is there a motion to approve res 9.6? Mr. Miranda and second Alvarez. >> Mr. Alvarez. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cruz.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Miranda? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Naim? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Oliva? >> Yes. >> Mr. Record? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chavez? >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Moving on to the committee reports. Are there any committee reports this evening? >> Yes. So the negotiation committee just
met with uh the teachers and we um worked through their proposal um and basically accepted you know and discussed most of their proposal. We do have three follow-up items. So we will
look to connect with them again as early as next week to solidify the final proposal. >> Perfect. Thank you, Miss Ro. Um, I just want to again, you know, congratulate the school district for just to piggyback on Kennedy for the
commissioner of education. Uh, for us to have been chosen. Um, she was extremely pleasant. Um to Carrie Kennedy's point, there was an aura about her leadership style and the information she bared and shared and there was uh I think that we
are definitely a district of worthiness to see. Um the career technical uh component of it was uh was definitely uh like just a pin that you know strawberry
on top of that shortcake. Um it was it was it was really pleasant to see the county educational superintendent as well here who said a lot of great things. Um I don't think Kennedy gives himself enough credit. Uh when I was up
there I I did often uh they praised him too in knowing Mr. Kennedy and how sharp and clean and and just how he did things and and and I guess more than anything his love for education. Um that was a big point. uh they say you know people
little words they say it quickly. Uh one of the things the commissioner uh remembered it was her time as a as a student in in her where she comes from I think was maybe Massachusetts or something and she did welding. Um so it was it was nice. She was very impressed
what she saw in our schools and I got to tell you it was it was a good feeling. It was a good feeling. It was a great opportunity to be present. So it was good stuff. Kudos to Bagota. >> Thank you, Mr. Miranda. Um, next on the agenda is old business 11.1. Is there
any old business we would like to discuss? >> I would just like to understand where we're at with the renaming of the CTE building. I know that some names were selected. It's moved on. It would be nice to do a new ribbon cutting for the
CTE building to honor Mr. Kennedy and his name placement. Um, and whatever I guess would need to from us to any approvals. I'm not sure the next steps to get the building renamed. Um, I know that we've already passed uh the
approval of it. The name has been selected, but it's more about what goes up there. Is there a banner that goes up for now? What goes up there? Renaming it officially and for us to do an official ribbon cutting for Mr. Canon. Same with the retunda.
>> Same with the Ritz. Yes, absolutely. But yes, that's a great that's a great uh issue and we will sit down and discuss this. I guess I'm I'm not sure exactly what we're going to do if it's a sign or like you said a banner. I to me it should be a sign or something commemorative to each and every one of
both of you. So that would be >> I and obviously also celebrate that day. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, so >> listen, we have one more meeting before the end of the school year, correct for us. So, can can we agree to figure out what to do to at least
>> Absolutely. >> for the beginning of the the opening of the school year. Is there something is it possible? >> Yeah, definitely. >> For the opening of the school year, >> what we did was we adopted resolutions authorizing the naming. Okay. And then
we authorized a committee to be formed to sort of push the ball across the goal line like how big would the sign be? What what color would be like all those details to kind of be ferreted out >> by a committee who you can appoint and correct
>> um just to really finalize it. So we don't need to take any more >> formal action at the board level. >> I'm not referring to that. And we I guess the the previous committee right because they haven't been >> discussed the sign. >> Yeah. Because we did not discuss the
sign. We discussed the name >> but we didn't discuss the sign the color or what we wanted to do. >> So you so the committee did exist. You guys met on Okay. So I'm referring more about >> finalization. We actually didn't go to that point. So we we definitely can meet
again and then we'll obviously make our decision at that at that moment. And if you could just share the names, it'd be great. >> Um I I will say, you know, the names I truly >> exactly what the names would >> I whatever that name may be just to just
to just >> try to meet before the last announce it at the end of the school. Perfect. >> I I I I think what we can do too is is put an agenda item naming those two specific buildings. >> Yeah. finaliz it's finalized and then >> over the summer we can figure out like
>> we have to pick a date when we will >> I think but I would personally think to start the school year off would be a great way to do both things like one special day >> so let's end our school year announcing it start our school year embracing you know opening and embracing that that
sounds good >> yeah that sounds like a plan I all I want to >> finalize it it's something that's been lingering >> thank you for bringing it up and >> absolutely >> it's true I think that was good good um good call on old business. Excellent.
>> Thank you very much, Mr. Miranda. Uh next on the agenda, is there any new items 12.1? Is there any new business? >> Yes. I want to talk about the field. >> Okay. >> And I want to talk about field usage.
And I think that we've enjoyed a, you know, good portion of the school year. The town has enjoyed it. You know, community at large has enjoyed it. But I do think it is time to build some infrastructure around around it and and I don't know if that goes to the policy committee or open and I've feels like
that's where it should start. But I feel like it's time for us to put some parameters around it. >> Um so that it's not a free-for-all. You know what I mean? You can't even use Olson Park whatever way you want. You have to engage the recreation center to do that. I think that it is time for us
to just put some some guardrails around its use. um and you know some signage maybe around how to to appropriately use that the field and I think before when we come back in August or we need to
talk about the lighting you know Jose and I can attest to once daylight savings time ends those lights don't go off till 9 10:00 but the sun has been down since 4:45 um so we need to you
know talk about when they should go off even in the summer. When should they go off? It is not, you know, just a free-for-all park. We need to to be we need to be responsible about our resources. That's a lot of electricity and we're just, you know,
>> Absolutely. >> I agree. >> Late is the park open for walking around. They're just open. >> 10 o'clock. >> 10 o'clock. >> I think there's something around local laws. 10 o'clock. Um yeah, I think we should establish a public calendar as well uh for permitted use and for
non-permitted use. Um there's a lot of fuss around different towns over the same situation. I think that um as a board we have to be uh a little more assertive with our burrow council and
mayor and the choice for them to design organize events. Um I I get it that they're seeing Yeah, I Yeah, I get it. I get it. Uh, but communities usually people from the committee usually don't do that. U, the reason being is one rule should apply to everyone. If we're
asking for permits and we're collecting fees, which is another topic I want to start looking at our fees. My I looked at something that seems like we're the lowest in Bergen County for fees that we're charging. So yeah, we've granted permission to two organizations at that
current rate, but it's only fair, you know, those those fields did cost millions of dollars. And it's only fair that we acrew some sort of it's not necessarily for profit, but it's in order to maintain our parks and our fields because it did take a hundred years for Bagota to arrive to where it's
at now. I don't know what the other hundred years are going to look like. So we got to put we got to put law and order down there. I I >> Yep. I also think that um you know I've had the the opportunity to speak with some um personnel down at Burough Hall
and there's a lot of it just it's strange to me that um it seems like the police doesn't know direction about what they have to protect whether it's the border vet or not. So we have to get a little broader and maybe start educating people of what
is supposed to be protected and how. So, I I would be one of those to maybe if you want to establish a committee there as well, I I'll I'll head it on because it's just it just can't be open. I've seen >> I've used it and I've I'm watching organized events that are not nec no
one's from from the town. They're coming. So, once you start seeing that they're going to come from anywhere and start playing soccer field, then how do our kids get free time? So we just have to put and I think we should look at >> So you the board has a pretty highly developed policy on the use of its
facilities and that would include feeal field as well. So there's a whole application process and approval process. There's a fee structure but certain organizations have a pass on the fees depending if they're public entities or or what have you. Um and you
know there's parameters in there and as far as insurance and indemnification of the board. So that's pretty critical. Like someone has an event down there gets hurt and we don't have an insurance policy uh where we're named as an additional insurer puts the board at risk and then that turns into
enforcement. How do we enforce it down there? And we got to have the police cooperate with us down there because if they don't, we're it's like wasted taxpayer money. >> Yep. >> Um because someone could get hurt, we could get sued and uh forget about
potential vandalism and stuff like that. But we, you know, we have to have the police cooperating with the school board. I I I it's beyond me that that doesn't happen. Um, it has to happen. So, uh, you know, we'll look at the policy. We can certainly update the
policy, but it's going to be the enforcement mechanism on this that's critical, and we got to have the police help us out on that. And I don't know why they wouldn't, frankly. For the record, was anyone here aware of a mayor's wellness entire Bergen County
enrollment event? Was were they also supposed to add us as additionally insured as a entity? >> It depends on the Yeah. The normal Yeah. Yeah. You you Yeah. >> Just for So, was anyone else aware, Mr. Kennedy? Anyone? It doesn't seem like
anyone was aware. This is something that was published as already having its dates. I think it's Mondays and Fridays certain time schedules an entire >> for seniors. It was a community walk or >> it was a wellness program for Bod. It wasn't just seniors. It's any age.
>> And it's not just bod res. >> No, it's just open. And the thing is it was organized. It's been put out there. It's published. It has dates and times and we know nothing about it. >> I believe it started this weekend. I guess it's for the We don't know. We We don't have
>> But it's just out there and I >> It's Monday and and Friday you said. >> Yeah, that's what I've read. Okay. >> So, I'm just saying like we the body the administration should know and it may conflict with programs. So, we should be clear of that. >> Is there a way we can establish fees to
people that are using our our feed? >> You have it. You have it in the uh in the in the policy, >> but organized. I've asked I've asked to reach out to local districts to try to get a comparison. So, we're definitely going to be raising up our rates because
it is very cheap at this moment. Um, and some people just redid their fields and they also raised their rates. So, we are in that process. My hope is to have that effective for July 1st with just one reading. Um, this incident that happened
the other day, I I sent an email to the town BA uh asking some questions. He said it was a mistake that they should have been on the walking path. I said, "Okay." And I and to be clear, we have no problem with people using the fields,
but we just need to go through the proper protocol so that we're not double booking. I know like for example, we have Georgetown University coming down there to do a workout because they're traveling through the area. So, we're going to have a division one program working out on our track one morning.
That's a pretty big deal. We're going to get some kids down there to watch them. We also have a ton of field days coming up. So, we just want to make sure we're not double booked and it's not a problem. And anyone can use the fields, right? That's why that's why they were built. So right >> just go >> anyone not organized
>> not in just make sure that you are >> do we have a calendar for the field >> Appleton does like we have an inter >> but we need to make it public it's been a fight >> the calendar >> I think we do >> but okay I mean I could but all right we got to talk about that I don't know how I make something like that public
>> well it's easy but >> some restrictions on that yeah >> like I can't >> all because of the exposure of children at certain time >> I think something >> but I think more for permits it doesn't have to be a public calendar for school. It's our field at all times. >> Correct. >> It's about permitting. So the people coming
>> when it comes to our field our use, it could be no permitted use allow. >> Correct. In other words, so we have a calendar right now. So for example, like people want to use it on Sundays and I I didn't think it was a good idea to ever rent out the fields on Sunday. That should be for the community only. Um,
that's a day for for our town, too. I don't want like when people finally have a day off, I don't want them going down the field and then there's 10 events going on. >> And I think that we have to be clear about what you use the field for because it was a kids birthday party the other day. That's not what that's for. And
they're doing that because to use the pavilion across the way, you pay. >> You got to pay, >> right? You have to pay and you have to, you know, you got to get insurance and all of that. So we we like I said and I know I started this but we need some guardrails around this because >> absolutely you know to drive it's going
to get out of balloons. I'm like what the heck it's a kid's birthday party. >> Yeah. It's going to get out of control if we don't put guard rails on it. You know I was present at one event where our softball middle school coach was being told to leave um you know to hurry
up. it was 520 and we legally through our because we gifted those fields if any for the other side of the park if anyone so we can't forget that order suddenly. Um but with that being said in that gift it clearly states in our agreement and our
interlocal agreement that we have those fields till 6:30 through our school function. So so you know a per a permitted use was already provided for 5:30 and they were rushing our practices. So, you know, I just want to make sure that we're clear, right? We're
we're also in the interlocal agreement. We manage, we take we upkeep the fields. I I hope that and I knew this would come to head at some point because it's usually what happens. Um I think billingwise, we're covered right as far
as what's due from them and they're supposed to cover a portion of the upkeep of their side of the park. That's all under control. Everything is good there. I didn't submit the first invoice yet, but >> I I'll love to see what they come back with. So, just so you all know on the
board, there's a 50/50 split on what is being upkept on the Olsson Park side of the of the field. >> So, they could have on their side and we can't say nothing. >> No, no, no. Yeah, they could have done all the walk. Yeah,
>> as long as it didn't interfere with one of our schooling path, not on that was there. There's no mistake, guys. Read the flyer. It says FO. It says gate >> D gate. There was absolutely no mistake there. So, you know, I've always been our own up to my mistakes and that was
not a mistake. All right. >> Absolutely. >> Agreed. We have to definitely discuss this and make sure that we we do put guard rails around that because going to get extremely out of hand. have a combined committee meeting between buildings and grounds and policy and just let's just hammer it out so that we
don't drag it because if we don't do something summer is going to be chaotic. >> Oh yeah, it is. It is going to be >> it's already chaotic. >> It's already chaotic. >> I saw it. >> But summer will it'll get out of hand. >> There was cheerleading down there. I was telling Mr. Kennedy people um and we
need more garbage cans. I don't know if I can stress that any further. All I see is garbage and bottles and bottles and I'm not sure who cleans it up and kudos to whoever does but there's a lot of garbage hitting the ground there. If we could just come up with a few more >> bins. Listen, we're just trying to take
care of what we finally got. >> The other thing is at at night in the summer because I was there last summer and you would hear a lot of people just going there at night >> when it's dark. They're there. We're not going to We have the police department have to speak to the police department
because definitely that's that it's ongoing. >> We want people to have fun, I think. Right. I think that's the goal. Just responsible. >> Same way that they're, you know, going by the the parks, making sure that, you know, one is in the parks after certain hours. That's something that needs to be
patrolled as well. >> Absolutely. >> I would say you have resources, right? And this is like Boda is your help. We would keep it beautiful. >> Yeah. try >> not let somebody come. >> I agree. >> That is the thing. >> Okay, >> Miss Rucket, thank you very much for bringing that up. Miranda, thank you for
pushing that along. Um, moving on to section 13.1. Open the floor to hearing of the public. Any motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Rocket. Mr. Miranda, is there any board discussion? All in favor?
>> I. Is there any member of the public who would like to address the board? Speakers, please state your name. You have five minutes. >> Nothing. >> Is there a motion to close hearing of motion?
>> Mr. Miranda. Second. >> Leo. >> Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Perfect. There is no executive session. Um, can I have a motion to >> motion public meeting?
>> Mr. Miranda second. Alvarez. Mr. Alvarez. Thank you guys very much. You guys have a great night. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And she gets there by sorry.